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Sao Paulo eye historic treble

(FIFA.com) 09 May 2008

No team has won three successive Brasileiro titles. Not the
Palmeiras machine spearheaded by Ademir da Guia, nor the great
Internacional side with Falcao as its fulcrum, nor even the
star-stacked Flamengo outfit headlined by the magnificent Zico. It
is a statistic that illustrates the unpredictable charm of the
competition, but it is one that Sao Paulo will set out to change
when the 2008 edition begins this weekend.

O Tricolor Paulista cruised to glory in both 2006 and
2007, and coach Muricy Ramalho certainly has the quality at his
disposal to repeat the feat. Alex Silva, Richarlyson and Hernanes
have all turned out for Brazil in recent games, while Rogerio Ceni
and the in-form Adriano will be hoping to use the domestic
championship to propel themselves back into Dunga's plans.

Sao Paulo face competition from local rivals Palmeiras, who
finished seventh last term before adding the likes of Denilson,
Kleber and Alex Mineiro to a squad already comprising outstanding
playmaker Jorge Valdivia.
O Verdão's key figure, however, is Vanderlei
Luxemburgo, who is seeking to improve his record of five Brasileiro
crowns as coach.

Winning the Brasileiro is our objective. We will begin the seasonas one of the favourites and we will fight to bring the titlehome

Coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo believes Palmeiras have what it takes to seize their fifth Brasileiro title

The state's most popular club, 2005 national champions
Corinthians, will be top-flight absentees for the first time since
the tournament's 1971 inception, but the final member of the
region's 'big four' are hoping to mount a challenge.
Santos disappointed in this year's state championship, but
their record over the previous six Brasileiro campaigns is
encouraging: two titles, two runners-up spots and one fourth-placed
finish.

Carioca challengePaulista clubs have emerged triumphant in five of the past
six seasons, but for the first time in years there is genuine
belief the trophy could end up in Rio de Janeiro, specifically in
the cabinet of either Flamengo or Fluminense. The pair finished the
group phase of the Copa Libertadores 2008 with the most points,
although the former crashed out of the competition at America's
hands on Wednesday.

Brazil's most popular club will look to atone for this by
seizing their first league title since 1992, and new coach Caio
Junior will be able to count on the likes of Brazil wingback
Leonardo Moura, midfield linchpin Ibson and exciting No10 Renato
Augusto, 20, to help him realise this ambition.

Fluminense also have substantial reason for optimism. One of
three Brazilian sides through to the last eight of the Copa
Libertadores, alongside Santos and Sao Paulo, the Laranjeiras side
boast infallible defender Thiago Silva, the irresistible Thiago
Neves and a pair of prolific attackers in Dodo and Washington.

Botafogo have enriched their squad with the enigmatic Carlos
Alberto, whose mission will be to share playmaking duties with
Lucio Flavio, but they, along with Rio de Janeiro's fourth
power, Vasco, face a tall order in attempting to top the
podium.

One side who are considered a genuine threat to Sao Paulo's
rule are Cruzeiro. With the emerging Adilson Batista at the
controls, Ramires and Wagner in midfield, and Marcelo Moreno
leading the line,
A Raposa will be confident of a second Brasileiro
conquest.

Cruzeiro's previous title came in 2003 when cross-state
rivals Ipatinga were only five years old. However, following a
meteoric ascent, including the Mineiro State Championship title in
2005 and back-to-back promotions,
O Tigrão will line up among Brazil's elite. The
minnows will begin their survival quest at home to Atletico
Paranaense, who possess ambitions of a different kind.

"I believe we'll have a great campaign and that we have
all the conditions to become Brasileiro champions," says
Furacão wingback Nei, before admitting: "It's a
wide open championship. A number of teams could win it."

Which one does could be affected by departures. Adriano and
Ibson are just two of the players whose loan deals are due to
expire before the campaign reaches its halfway stage, while the
likes of Thiago Neves, Valdivia and Marcelo Moreno are sure to be
courted by the European giants once the continent's transfer
window reopens.

"
," admits Rogerio Ceni.
"In other leagues there are only a few teams in with a chance
but here there are several teams capable of lifting the
trophy."

The Brasileiro is the most difficult national championship to winbecause it is so wide open

Rogerio Ceni explains why winning a third successive title will not be easy for Sao Paulo.